Industry News
EDS Signs $108 Million IT Outsourcing Deal with First International Bank of Israel
Representatives of EDS Israel announced that the company has signed an outsourcing contract with the First International Bank of Israel (FIBI). The project is valued at approximately US$108 million over eight years.
The FIBI contract is considered to be the largest outsourcing contract in Israel and the first such contract in the Israeli banking industry. It was awarded to EDS, who will serve as the prime contractor, and Ness Technologies following a comprehensive and competitive evaluation process.
Under the terms of the contract, FIBI will outsource its information technology (IT) operations to EDS lsrael, including approximately 100 employees of FIBI’s IT subsidiary, and the IT infrastructure. Through this contract, EDS will manage the bank’s IT infrastructure; host the bank’s central, departmental and personal computer activity and manage its communications network.
EDS Agility Alliance partners contributed to this agreement.
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General Dynamics Awarded $69 Million Stryker Reset Contract
The U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a US$69 million contract for Stryker eight-wheeled combat vehicle sustainment or “reset” work.
Through this contract, General Dynamics will service, repair and modify 265 Stryker infantry combat vehicles which are returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom, restoring them to a pre-combat, like-new condition in advance of reissuing the vehicles prior to their next deployment. These vehicles have been in service in Iraq since October 2003, supporting two 3,900-soldier Stryker Brigade Combat Team rotations.
The reset work is slated to begin in mid-November by existing General Dynamics employees in Sterling Heights; London, Ontario, Canada; and at Fort Lewis, Wash. Work is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2006.
During their service in Iraq, these vehicles were driven more than six million miles, participating in assignments ranging from Fallujah, Baghdad and the Euphrates River Valley to the Tigris River Valley and Mosul. The vehicles maintained an operational readiness rate above 95 percent throughout their deployment in Iraq.
The armored vehicles enable Stryker Brigade Combat Teams to maneuver easily in close and urban terrain, while providing protection in open terrain. Performance highlights include C-130 transportability; networked command, control, computing and communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capability; integral 14.5mm armor protection and 152mm artillery airburst protection; self-deployment and self-recovery capability; reduced vehicle acoustic signature; ability to carry a nine-man infantry or engineer squad; and bunker and wall breaching capability.
Stryker is the Army’s highest-priority production combat vehicle program and the centerpiece of the ongoing Army Transformation. The Stryker family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles can travel at speeds up to 62 mph on highways, with a range of 312 miles. Stryker vehicle configurations include carriers for mortars, engineer squads, infantry squads, command groups, and fire support teams; a nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance vehicle; anti-tank guided missile and medical evacuation vehicles; and the Mobile Gun System, a 105mm cannon mounted in a low-profile turret that is integrated into the Stryker chassis.
The Army recently approved the Mobile Gun System and the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle for low-rate production, and the first MGS and NBCRV vehicles are slated for delivery to the Army this month.
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Boeing 777-200LR Sets New World Record for Distance
oeing established a new world record for distance traveled nonstop by a commercial airplane when a Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner landed at London Heathrow Airport this week. The 777-200LR (Longer Range) flew 11,664 nautical miles (21,601 km) during its 22-hour 42-minute flight that left Hong Kong flying eastbound the evening of Nov. 9. The distance set by the 777-200LR is farther than any previous commercial jetliner has flown and exceeds a distance of more than halfway around the world.
The 777-200LR left Hong Kong International Airport at 10:30 p.m. local time Nov. 9 and landed at London Heathrow Airport at approximately 1:30 p.m. GMT Nov. 10. The airplane traveled eastbound towards London, flying over the North Pacific Ocean, across North America, and then over the mid-north Atlantic Ocean en route to London.
On its flight from Hong Kong to London , the 777-200LR flew farther than any previous commercial jetliner, surpassing two notable previous distance records. For an airplane its size and class, the 777-200LR replaces the distance record set by a 747-400 in 1989 that flew 9,200 nautical miles (17,039 km) nonstop from London to Sydney. Also, the 777-200LR exceeded the distance traveled by a 777-200ER (Extended Range) that flew 10,823 nautical miles (20,044 km) from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur in 1997, setting a speed and distance record. Although the 777-200LR flew farther, this record will continue to stand because the 777-200ER was classified in a lighter weight category for its record attempt.
The 777-200LR is the world's longest-range commercial jetliner and is capable of connecting virtually any two cities around the globe. It is the fifth 777 model. In service, the 777-200LR can carry 301 passengers and baggage up to 9,420 nautical miles (17,445 kilometers).
The first 777-200LR will be delivered to Pakistan International Airlines in early 2006. To date, 43 airlines around the world have ordered more than 700 777s.
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Toshiba and NEC Electronics to Collaborate on 45-nanometer System LSI Process Technologies
Representatives of Toshiba Corporation and NEC Electronics Corporation announced that they have agreed to collaborate on the development of CMOS logic process technology for the 45-nanometer (nm) generation.
As advances in semiconductor process technologies become more complex, time consuming and expensive, the joint development will allow the companies to share burdens and accelerate development, while raising system LSI performance and quality.
Under the terms of the agreement, engineers from Toshiba and NEC Electronics will collaborate at Toshiba's Advanced Microelectronics Center in Yokohama on development of fundamental CMOS process technology, which both companies will be able to implement at their manufacturing facilities. The companies will also separately discuss how to handle the development of value-added and differentiated process technologies.
In the leading edge system LSI business, process technologies are shrinking to achieve high-speed, low-power system LSI for application in digital consumer products and mobile communication equipment, and products with 90nm technologies are entering volume production. To achieve further improvements in performance and power consumption, 65nm and even 45nm process technologies are now being developed. Achievement of 45nm system LSI will demand more development resources than ever, and system LSI companies worldwide are promoting collaboration to achieve more efficient development.
In this environment, Toshiba and NEC Electronics will integrate process technologies they have heretofore developed individually, and share newly-developed technologies.
The companies have also begun to discuss comprehensive collaboration in development, such as design environments and product development, as well as collaboration in manufacturing to achieve more efficient use of capital investment and increase capacity utilization rates.
Toshiba and NEC Electronics expect the joint effort to reduce development burdens and to shorten turn-around times for highly advanced system LSI. Toshiba sees future increases in utilization rates at its most advanced system LSI production facility, while NEC Electronics expects to focus on the development of value-added system LSI products, by focusing on differentiated process technologies.
Beginning with this joint development for 45nm system LSI process technology, Toshiba and NEC Electronics have begun to discuss a comprehensive alliance, and through the development and mass-production of excellent system LSI products, aim for leadership in the global semiconductor industry.
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Alcatel and Maplecroft Partner to Launch a Global Map of Digital Inclusion
On the occasion of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis (November 16-18), Alcatel and Maplecroft, a consultant company specialized in corporate responsibility, plan to launch a global map about access to information and communication technologies (ICT). This map explores the role of ICTs as an enabler of social and economic development, in particular how ITC's might contribute to the UN Millennium Development Goals.
The global map of digital inclusion 2005 forms part of the Maplecroft 'Global maps' series - a vast resource of data and analysis covering 30 sustainable development issues - and areas of risk and opportunity for business.
This map, produced by Alcatel and Maplecroft, features 178 countries colored according to one of four distinct levels of digital access - as presented in the Digital Access Index of the ITU. The map also describes the win-win benefits of engagement in facilitating digital inclusion and how companies can work in partnership with other stakeholders to achieve greater levels of digital access for all segments of society. Spotlights on company engagement in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, Europe, are presented alongside case studies that highlight the wide range of benefits and opportunities for all stakeholders involved.
Much of today's information is accessible on the Internet and other electronic forms through ICTs. For many people however, access to electronic information is difficult or even impossible - leaving them excluded from opportunities to access global markets and information resources. This lack of access creates what is commonly referred to as the 'digital divide'.
This 'divide' threatens economic growth and social development and mostly affects marginalized people with reduced access to ICTs due to a lack of capacity, finances or infrastructures. Overcoming this divide through digital inclusion is mostly about enabling social inclusion - using ICT as a vehicle to improve skills, enhance quality of life, drive education and promote economic wellbeing for all of society.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has convened a two-part Summit (WSIS) to achieve this goal: the first part took place in Geneva 2003; the second part takes place in Tunis, November 16-18, 2005.
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AP, MSN Align for New Internet Video Network
Representatives of The Associated Press (AP) and MSN announced that they are teaming to develop the AP Online Video Network to provide AP members with news video for their Web sites. AP member Web sites participating in the AP Online Video Network receive a custom-branded MSN Video player, daily news video from AP, pre-stream advertising to run adjacent to the video in the player, and a share of the advertising revenue.
With the new service, AP will make AP news video available to a network of more than 3,500 AP newspaper and broadcast members in the United States. MSN will provide the video player and technology and will sell the advertising for the fully ad-supported service. AP will retain full control over editorial content in the AP Online Video Network. The service, which will be available at no charge to members, will be launched in the first quarter of 2006.
Initially, AP will provide approximately 50 video clips per day covering national, international, entertainment, technology and business news. The AP Online Video Network will grow over time as network members and other content partners contribute their own video.
In addition to providing AP members with a customizable Windows Media-based video player, MSN will work to develop other network products, including a local advertising and content syndication system for AP affiliates within the network. AP members that use the new service will have the opportunity to share revenue generated by ads on their Web sites. To date, MSN Video has provided video technology exclusively to sites within the MSN network. This relationship represents the first time MSN Video player technology will be syndicated to sites outside its network. MSNBC.com will continue to be the exclusive video news content partner for the MSN network of sites.
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Allianz Hungary Estimates $100,000-a-year Saving with Cisco Data Centre Network Architecture
Representatives of Cisco Systems announced that its optical and storage area networking (SAN) technologies will help Allianz Hungary extend its business continuity infrastructure, reduce operational risk and address industry compliance guidelines.
Allianz, Hungary's largest insurance company with three million customers, estimates it will save more than $100,000 a year by deploying the Cisco technology instead of employing multiple links to connect two data centres located 14kms apart in Budapest. The Cisco optical networking technology will help support the back up information between the data centres and consolidate multiple traffic channels onto one optical network.
The intelligent network will help Allianz form the foundation of a Cisco Data Centre Network Architecture to support current and future data storage needs in an evolutionary way, as well as provide a virtualised environment to share computing and data resources. Since 2000, data storage at Allianz has increased from 4 Terabytes to 40 Terabytes currently.
Allianz's business continuity strategy - based around its two Budapest locations and central SAN - has been developed using Cisco technology. Since all business data is held at the data centres, Allianz needed a highly secure and reliable way to back up and store data, share it between locations, and provide agents and 3000 staff at 140 branch offices around Hungary with a disaster tolerant IT infrastructure.
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Intel, Dell and Schlumberger To Deliver Feature Rich Platforms For The Oil And Gas Industry
Representatives of Intel Corporation announced the company is working with Dell and Schlumberger to deliver a new workstation platform specifically designed to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry.
The three companies will employ their core strengths to develop computing platforms that deliver solutions with superior data throughput, computation performance and 3D graphical performance. Specifically, Schlumberger brings to this collaborative effort an intimate knowledge of exploration and production (E&P) environments and customer needs. Dell brings the ability to design and engineer high-performance Dell Precision workstations. Intel provides the next-generation architecture that promises to deliver systems with improved performance and memory capacity. In addition, Intel® software tools are being used by Schlumberger to further optimize the new Intel technology-based solutions to deliver faster workflow and data solutions.
In today’s extremely challenging E&P environment, new oil and gas reserves are increasingly difficult to find, and existing reserves are increasingly difficult to recover. To succeed, the industry must be innovative and speed up the transformation of data into decision-ready intelligence. Intel, Dell and Schlumberger are working together to deliver a high-performance computing platform for the E&P industry that meets the oil and gas industry’s needs for productivity and innovation.
This effort represents a deepening of the already strong technical relationship among the three companies. Today, Schlumberger routinely optimizes their software prior to release on the latest Intel® platforms to deliver faster E&P workflow and data solutions, using Intel software tools. Dell and Intel have aligned to produce advanced workstations, the Dell Precision 470 and 670, based on the dual core technology of the Intel® Xeon® processor.
Dell, the world’s leading supplier of workstations, recently announced the availability of these Dell Precision workstations, which enable dramatic increases in performance and power efficiency compared to single-core processors, especially when running multiple or multi-threaded applications.
